Ombudsman expands Cebu flood-control probe, eyes contractors and DPWH personnel

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman is expanding its review of flood-control projects in Cebu, with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla saying the agency will examine not only the structures built but also the government officials, contractors, and procurement processes behind them.

Remulla said the Ombudsman has so far accounted for about ₱60 billion in flood-control spending in Cebu over the last six years.

The amount, he said, warrants closer examination, particularly as flooding continues to affect communities despite years of government spending on flood mitigation.

The agency will determine whether the problems stem from project design, poor implementation, or possible corruption.

Remulla said investigators will inspect projects throughout Cebu and assess how they were carried out, including whether contractors followed the technical requirements stated in their contracts.

The probe will also cover allegations involving *ghost projects and duplicate project entries*.

One disputed project in Barangay Singsing in Balamban, for instance, will be checked using its recorded coordinates and digital tools to establish whether the project exists and whether it meets the required standards.

The Ombudsman will also investigate possible substandard construction.

Remulla pointed to sheet piling as an example, saying investigators will compare actual construction against specifications contained in government contracts. He said the office has encountered cases in other areas where required specifications were allegedly not followed.

The review will not be limited to completed structures.

The Ombudsman will also examine the procurement process, including allegations of *rigged bidding and projects being awarded without competitive bidding*.

District engineers and other DPWH personnel may likewise undergo lifestyle checks, while contractors will be examined as part of the investigation.

Remulla said the agency is taking a deliberate approach because flood-control contracts can involve extensive technical documentation. While artificial intelligence may help process information, he said investigators still need to examine the contracts and supporting evidence themselves.

He stressed that the Ombudsman will not rush cases simply because allegations have been raised.

The agency, he said, needs evidence strong enough to establish violations and withstand judicial scrutiny.

To increase its capacity in the Visayas, Remulla said *20 additional lawyers* will be brought into the Ombudsman Visayas office for fact-finding, preliminary investigation and prosecution work.

The Cebu flood-control review is part of a broader effort by the Ombudsman to examine government spending and possible conflicts of interest involving public officials and contractors.

Remulla said the office is also pushing for legislation that would require government transactions—from bidding and contracts to permits and other local-government processes—to be digitally recorded and made accessible to the public.

He said greater transparency should begin at the barangay level and continue through the national government.

For Remulla, the objective goes beyond individual prosecutions.

He said the Ombudsman wants to strengthen accountability and restore public confidence in government by making corruption more difficult to conceal and ensuring that those responsible face the consequences of their actions.

“It's not about targeting people. It's about targeting a change in our society,” Remulla said. | Carmel Pedroza